Under-trial prisoner dies while undergoing treatment in Odisha, kin cry foul 

An under-trial prisoner (UTP) breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) in Sundargarh on Tuesday. Family members alleged torture inside the jail.  

The deceased has been identified as Debabrata Singh, a resident of the Barasuan area under Lahunipada Police Limits. 

As per the reports, the Excise Department had arrested Singh on charges of selling liquor and sent him to the Special Jail at Bonaigarh. As he fell ill, he was rushed to Bonai Sub-Divisional Hospital. Later, he was shifted to the RGH. While undergoing treatment, he died today. Doctors claimed brain haemorrhage caused by high blood pressure to be the reason behind the death. 

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“His blood pressure was very high. He might have suffered a brain haemorrhage. The situation was so bad that we couldn’t do a CT scan,” said Dr Hasibul Alam Khan, a doctor at the RGH. 

However, the deceased’s family members found the doctor’s claim a bitter pill to swallow. They alleged Singh was subjected to torture inside the jail, leading to his death. 

“What happened to him within two days in the prison so that black spots appeared on his forehead. What I want to say is he was tortured in the prison. I demand action against the jail authorities and compensation to the family,” said Pratap Singh, a relative of the deceased.